# NTSB LAX98LA311: Robinson R22B, N8340D, Salinas, CA, September 30, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 30, 1998, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Salinas, CA - Coordinates: 36.759037, -121.650382 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7590&lon=-121.6504&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44166 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA311 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44166/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA311 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to maintain control of the aircraft while practicing autorotations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - autorotation - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Roll over, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven ## Analysis The chief pilot of the flight school reported that the student helicopter pilot was briefed for his first nonsupervised solo flight. The pilot was instructed to practice traffic patterns and to fly normal approaches and takeoffs, with no emergency maneuvers. The student pilot reported that he practiced traffic patterns, then decided to practice autorotations. He entered the autorotation from approximately 800 feet agl and 70 knots of airspeed. About 200 to 300 feet agl, he initiated a go-around to abort the autorotation. He raised the collective but didn't get a response. He reported that at that point he was 'not sure what was going wrong but felt [he] was losing control and going down very fast.' Once he realized he was about to hit the ground, he raised the collective and applied full aft cyclic. The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. The chief pilot reported that when the pilot called him for help after the accident, the pilot stated, 'I did what you told me not to do,' referring to the autorotations. The pilot had been given a solo endorsement on September 14, 1998. ## Factual narrative On September 30, 1998, at 1130 hours Pacific daylight time, a Robinson R22B, N8340D, crashed in a practice area north of Salinas, California. The aircraft was destroyed, and the private airplane rated pilot, the sole occupant, suffered serious injuries. The flight originated at the Salinas Airport at 1030, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The chief pilot of the flight school reported that the student helicopter pilot was briefed for his first nonsupervised solo flight. The pilot was told to practice traffic patterns, and was instructed to only fly normal approaches and takeoffs, with no emergency maneuvers. The student pilot reported that he worked on normal traffic patterns, then decided to practice autorotations to a go-around. He entered the autorotation from approximately 800 feet agl and 70 knots of airspeed. He stated that he initiated the autorotation by cutting the throttle and lowering the collective. He then turned 180 degrees to position the aircraft into the wind. The pilot reported that he noticed the rotor rpm rising rapidly so he raised the collective and applied aft cyclic to slow the airspeed to 65 knots. Approximately 200 to 300 feet agl, he initiated a go-around to abort the autorotation. The pilot stated that he raised the collective to add power but didn't get the response he was looking for. He stated that at that point he was "not sure what was going wrong but felt [he] was losing control and going down very fast." He further stated that "all inputs of raising the collective weren't slowing [him] down at all." The pilot reported that once he realized he was about to hit the ground, he pulled up on the collective and applied full aft cyclic. The helicopter impacted the ground and rolled over. The chief pilot reported that when the pilot called him for help after the accident, the pilot stated, "I did what you told me not to do." The student pilot had been given a solo endorsement on September 14, 1998. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8340D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8340D-2002-10-16), registration cancelled 2002-10-16, S/N 2618, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Robinson R22B - Registry model: [Robinson Helicopter R22 BETA](https://openairdocs.org/model/robinson-helicopter-r22-beta) (registry code 7640110) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Helicopter - Serial number: 2618 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Verticare Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 10, 1998, 74 hours before - Departed: SNS, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; student, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 2,600 total, 26 in this make and model, 2,600 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19980930027319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980930027319A), Sep 30, 1998: Robsin R22BETA, Salinas, CA, Destroyed. Helicopter autorotated and rolled over after landing.(-23)no narrative given on form. (.19) on September 30, 1998, at 1130 hours pacific daylight time a… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.